Spirit-inclinometer



(No Model.) 7

W. M. MORTON.

SPIRIT INGLINOMETER.

No. 577,772. Patented Feb. 23, 1897.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

. WILLIAM M. MORTON, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

SPlRlT-INCLINQMETER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 577,772, dated February23, 1897..

Application fil d February 8, 1896. Serial No. 578,479. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. MORTON, a

citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, county of NewHaven, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Spirit-Inc1inometers, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formingpart thereof.

The object of my invention is to provide a spirit-inolinometer which,while possessing even greater strength and durability, will be ofconsiderably less weight than those heretofore used and which can bemanufactured at a comparatively small cost.

To this end my invention consists in the inclinometer constructed andoperating as hereinafter-fully described, and particularly pointed outin the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters and numerals designatelike parts in the several figures, Figure 1 is side view of aninclinometer embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof withthe central portion of the frame shown in horizontal section. Fig. 3 isan end view, partly in vertical section. Fig. 4 is a rear View of thebubble-glass case detached from the frame. 1 Fig. 5 is an edge view ofthe same, partly in cross-section. Fig. 6 is an inner face view of thecap. Fig. 7 is an edge view thereof, partly in cross-section.

In its preferred form the frame of the instrument is composed of threeplates of sheetsteel-viz., a top plate f, a bottom plate g, and anintermediate plate a, the latter standing at a right angle to said topand bottom plates and being securely united thereto by means of tenonsa, projecting into mortises or recesses in said plates, which tenons areriveted at the outer side of the top and bottom plates, thus forming avery strong and rigid connection, which is practically invisible afterthe outer surface of said plates is reduced to a true plane. The framethus constructed, while being stronger and more durable than thoseheretofore used for this class of instruments, is of very much lessweight and can be manufactured at a considerably less cost. At a pointmidway between its ends the intermediate plate a of the frame isprovided with a circular opening a to receive the bubble-glass case,which is constructed as follows A circular ring I), having an outerdiameter to cause it to closely fit within said opening a in the frame,is provided at its front end with a projecting flange 17, adapted tobear against the front side of the plate a at the margin of saidopening. To lessen the weight of the case, the rear side of said flangeb is provided with the groove or channel 22 which extends continuouslyaround said flange, except at the points 2 3, (see Fig. 4,) where theoriginal thickness of the metal is left to form bearings for theadjusting-screws presently to be described.

For the same reason I prefer to form the channel 19 in the outer surfaceof the ring 1) at its rear end, which extends continuously about saidring except at the points 4 5 b 7, where sufficient thickness of metalis left to receive the tapped holes for the screws by which the cap issecured in place and the bubble-glass is fastened in position, ashereinafter de scribed. As before stated, said ring I) closely fitswithin the opening a in plate a, it being, however, free to revolvetherein, and to augment the frictional drag on the ring to prevent anyaccidental turning movement there-' of I prefer to provide the plate awith a rectangular recess or offset a in the wall of said opening and tolocate within said opening a flat bow-sprin g (1. bearing at its centeragainst the periphery of the ring b, as shown in Fig. 2 and by dottedlines in Fig. 1. The outer surface of flange b of said ring I) ispreferably beveled, as shown, and it carries the series of graduations19 adapted, in connection with a stationary pointer a on the frame, toindicate degrees of inclination of the instrument. The bubble-glass c isseated within the ring Z) and is held in place by the band 0,

which band is formed from a circular piece of thin sheet metal having adiameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the ring and benttransverselytoa U shape, (see Figs. 1 and 5,) with a filling piece ofmetal 0 inserted between its outer edges to receive the screw 0 passingthrough the ring 1), whereby the band is secured to the ring. Said bandis provided with the central opening to expose the bubble-glass-to view,as shown, and the latter is seated in the band by cement in the. usualmanner.

The ring I) is retained within the opening a of the frame by a cap d inthe form of an annular ring, which is secured to the rear end of saidring by the screws (1 entering tapped holes in the enlargements 4: 5 6of the ring before referred to, said cap having a beveled edge, whichbears against the rear side of plate Ct of the frame at the margin ofthe opening a Provision is thus made for retaining the bubble-glass casewithin the opening in the frame in such manner as to be capable of arotary movement to change the bubble-glass from a horizontal position toa vertical position, and vice versa, and to limit its movement inopposite directions at those two points I locate on the plate a, at themargin of the opening the two stop-pins 8 9, (shown by dotted lines inFigs. 1 and 2,) which pins project into the channel 11 of ring I), andprovide said ring with the two tangentially-disposed adjusting-screws bb, which enter tapped holes in the thickened portions 2 3 of said ringand project at their inner endsinto said channel, the ends of saidscrews making contact with said stop-pins, respectively, at the twoextremities of the movement of the case. By the adjustment afforded bysaid screws the bubble in glass 0 can be caused to accurately registerwith the center point of said glass at both extremities of the movementof the case, and the pointer a being set to indicate the zero-point ofthe graduations b when the bubble-glass occupies its horizontalposition, as shown in Fig. 1, said pointer and graduations willaccurately indicate any degree of inclination of said glass between itshorizontal and vertical positions.

The intermediate plate a of the frame will, preferably, be provided withadditional openings e, of any desired size and shape, to still furtherreduce the weight of the frame.

The inclinometer thus constructed is adapted for all of the uses forwhich such instruments are usually employed. It is very strong anddurable in its construction, is of light weight, and can be manufacturedat a comparatively small cost. The adjustment afforded by the screws b bcan be made without removing the bubble-glass case from the frame, whileat the, same time said screws are so protected by the projecting top andbottom of the frame as to insure them against accidental movement. Byremoving the cap cl and withdrawing the ring I) from the frame access isafforded to the screw 0 by removing which the band 0 can be removed fromsaid ring for the substitution of a new bubble-glass for a broken one orfor any purpose, an operation which can be performed very quickly andconveniently.

I do not herein claim, broadly, the form of frame shown and described,the same forming the subject of claim in an application for LettersPatent filed by me February 8, 1896, Serial No. 578,480.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatI claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an. inclinometer, the combination with a frame composed of threeplates of sheet metal, viz;a top plate, a bottom plate, and anintermediate plate standing at a right angle to said top and bottomplates and united to the latter at their center line, of an annularbubble-glass case revolubly seated within a circular opening in saidintermediate plate and having a bubble-glass detachably secured to theinner side thereof, two stop-pins located on said intermediate plate ofthe frame and projecting into an annular groove or channel in said case,and adjustable contact devices on said case adapted to engage saidstop-pins respectively to limit the movement of the case in oppositedirections, substantially as described.

2. The combination with the frame and the ring I) revolubly seated insaid frame, of the bubble-glass c, U-shaped band 0 partially inclosingsaid glass and having the fillingpiece 0 between its outer edges, andthe screw a passing through said ring and into said filling-piece,substantially as set forth.

WILLIAM M. MORTON.

Witnesses: 7

WM. A. CHAPMAN, GEORGE E. HALL.

